IIT Mandi celebrates 13th Foundation Day

Jawaharlal Nehru University Chancellor Vijay Kumar Saraswat was the chief guest. IIT Mandi Director plans to develop world-class laboratory to find smart solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture and defence. 

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi celebrated its 13th Foundation Day. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), was the chief guest on the occasion. 

He said, “An interdisiciplinary approach to learning is essential to scale new frontiers of technology and interdisciplinary science and social engineering can solve the world’s complex problems. You can solve the world’s problems with ethical and sustainable solutions using interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary engineering.” 

Aim to make IIT Mandi a research institute: Director 

Meanwhile, IIT Mandi Director Prof Laxmidhar Behera said, “Over the last decade, IIT Mandi has built many world-class facilities such as the Advanced Material Research Centre (AMRC), Bio-X and the C4DFED facility for the fabrication of semiconductor chips. We aim to make IIT Mandi primarily a research institute. All these centres can contribute to the growth of the institute and the nation.” 

He further said, “Given my background in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), I plan to develop a world-class, state-of-the-art laboratory on cognitive robotics and HCI (human-computer interaction) to find smart solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture and defence.” 

He said, “As Director, my role will be to focus on the key areas that can enable India to achieve self-sufficiency (Atmanirbharta) and build a sustainable future. I assure you that the institute will actively contribute to the societal development and progress of the nation with dedicated faculty and student engagements from time to time. I also acknowledge the district administration of Mandi for its contribution to IIT Mandi’s growth in the past 13 years.”    

The foundation stone of the institute was laid at Kamand, the site of the permanent campus of IIT Mandi, on February 24, 2009. Prof Timothy A Gonsalves was the founding Director of the institute. In August 2009, the Vallabh Government College, Mandi, was developed as a transit campus for IIT Mandi. The first batch of students was admitted in July 2009 and their classes began on July 27, 2009. 

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